Lorraine "Lorrie" Wenaas

Lorraine “Lorrie” Wenaas, age 93, of Carrington, ND, died Friday, September 30, 2016, at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington.

Lorraine Roseline “Lorrie” Trautman was born January 25, 1923, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the daughter of Christ and Maggie (Kroll) Trautman.  She grew up and attended school at Cleveland, ND. The family later moved to Jamestown.  Lorrie was working in a grocery store in Jamestown, and it was there she met Stener “Steve” Wenaas.   He later entered the US Navy, and was stationed on the East Coast.  Steve proposed, and asked Lorrie join him in marriage on June 24, 1944, in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

After his service to his country, they moved to Carrington where he established Steve’s Grocery, later known as Piggly Wiggly.  Lorrie worked in the store, often placing their first baby in the store window!   In 1959, Steve built and operated Lucky Lanes and Lorrie assisted there too.   She did these things while also raising the children and tending to the home.  In their later years, Lorrie and Steve wintered in Arizona.   Stener “Steve” Wenaas died April 19, 2015. 

Lorrie was a member of Federated Church, UCC/UMC and the Women’s Guild.  She had also taught Sunday School at Federated.  She was an active member of the Carrington American Legion Auxiliary, where she chaired the annual poppy drive for many years.  She enjoyed raising flowers, and was an avid baker, especially of apple pies.

She is survived by four children, Sandra (Jack) Lafferty of South Bend, IN, Robert (Joan) Wenaas of Cleveland, TN, Ron (Bonnie) Wenaas of Carrington, and Shellie (Jack) Nelson of Bismarck, ND; four grandchildren, Eric Wenaas, Fargo, Ashley (Cory) Thompson of Bellevue, NE, Aaron (Mary) Wenaas of Brooklyn Park, MN, and Ryan (Mariah) Wenaas of Montevideo, MN; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Norma Fish, Savage, MN and Carol Cannon, Portland, Oregon.

Lorrie was preceded in death by her husband Steve, her parents, and one brother Harold.